Tonights game

  • Please bear with us on the new site integration and fixing any known bugs over the coming days. If you can not log in please try resetting your password and check your spam box. If you have tried these steps and are still struggling email [email protected] with your username/registered email address
  • Log in now to remove adverts - no adverts at all to registered members!
lamby

lamby

Needs a cold shower
Oct 3, 2011
59,398
42,546
113
64
Mitcham, Surrey
Spain w/o Puyol and ace scorer David Villa, may not be as good as the teams of Euro 2008 and the World Cup of 2010 but they are still a very good side. They now use Fabregas as a ‘false No 9’ with Torres mainly off the bench as the CF is now not the player of two/three years ago. Nevertheless they have a 1-1, 4-0, 1-0 and 2-0 record in this tournament.

They keep the ball, playing with real patience while looking for incisive runs in between defenders, and they do cause mental and physical fatigue in their opponents.

2. Portugal do have the in-form 3 goal Ronaldo and the impressive Moutinho in MF. They have won 3 in a row since they held Germany for 70 minutes before losing 1-0 in their opening game. They have the advantage of having had an extra recovery day since the QFs. However MF Veloso looks poor, and Spain’s Barcelona defenders will be really determined to ‘get Ronaldo’. They will surely focus on marking him when Spain have the ball so that his threat is nullified when Portugal regain possession.

IN SUM - The draw is a runner here. However I can see Spain opening up this Portuguese defence often enough to win. However against the better sides Spain don’t do ‘cricket scores’ so a one or two goal win looks the best bet.


Views?
 
For some reason I can just see Ronaldo having the best game of his career and single-handedly defeating La Liga's finest. But I have been wrong about pretty much everything else so far.
 
Qwerty said:
For some reason I can just see Ronaldo having the best game of his career and single-handedly defeating La Liga's finest. But I have been wrong about pretty much everything else so far.
Click to expand...

Wish you had said earlier. We could all have bet against your predictions<whistle>
 
If spain focus on Ronaldo then Nani will do just as much damage. I firmly believe that if Ronaldo didn't exist then Nani would be considered among the top 3 wingers in the world as his progress wouldn't have been stifled by Ronaldo when he was at united. Nani is only dramatically inferior to Ronaldo in the air in all other aspects he is either as good or marginally worse.
 
Portugal: Rui Patricio, Joao Pereira, Pepe, Bruno Alves, Fabio Coentrao, Meireles, Veloso, Joao Moutinho, Nani, Almeida, Ronaldo. Subs: Eduardo, Custodio, Quaresma, Nelson Oliveira, Ricardo Costa, Rolando, Ruben Micael, Varela, Miguel Lopes, Hugo Viana, Postiga, Beto.

Spain: Casillas, Arbeloa, Pique, Sergio Ramos, Jordi Alba, Xavi, Busquets, Alonso, Silva, Negredo, Iniesta. Subs: Valdes, Albiol, Javi Martinez, Juanfran, Pedro, Torres, Fabregas, Mata, Llorente, Santi Cazorla, Jesus Navas, Reina.

No Fabregas or Torres!
 
fran-MLs little camera said:
Despite Ronaldo, I hope Portugal win.
Click to expand...

Same here. I don't mind if it's a bit of Ronaldo's magic that does it. I know Spain play a pure form of football, and I can appreciate it. But Jeez, sometimes I'd like a bit of excitement. If everyone tries to copy Spain's idea of football, I'm giving up watching the sport.

This contest actually looks like a training game. at the moment.

Portuagl just had a free-kick, which reminds how poor the corners and free-kicks have been from the so-called finest players in the World. What you need are Lambert and Fox to coach them. ;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Bottom
Back